Accidental Administration of Auto-Injectable Adrenaline into a Digit Christine Wanis Huda Jawad Richard J Moore Julie Burke Dental Update 2024 47:1, 707-709.
Authors
ChristineWanis
MFDS RCS(Ed), BDS Hons(Lond), PGCertDentEd
StR in Oral Surgery, Yorkshire and the Humber Deanery
General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) and Dental Care Professionals (DCPs) have a duty of care to ensure that patient safety is at the forefront of their clinical practice. Medical emergencies, although rare, can occur in the dental setting, and early, effective management of these emergencies can, not only save lives, but also improve long-term outcomes. A case is reported which highlights a safety incident involving accidental self-administration of an adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) into a digit during a medical emergencies training session. Consequently, the aim is to raise awareness of these unexpected safety incidences and propose a protocol for the treatment of such injuries.
CPD/Clinical Relevance: This paper highlights the importance of vigilance when undertaking a medical emergency training course, and the introduction of a new protocol to be used in cases of accidental AAI injury.
Article
Medical emergency training in dentistry is an essential part of both undergraduate teaching, and a recommended postgraduate core subject in continued professional development (CPD) outlined by the General Dental Council (GDC).1 Anaphylactic reactions to drugs used in dentistry, or substances found in dental settings, are well reported.2 The most commonly described anaphylaxis in the dental setting is to antibiotics,3 however, chlorhexidine allergies, although rare, are on the rise,4 although the incidence is unknown.5 Its extensive use to reduce infection has potentially sensitized a small portion of patients, leading to life-threatening anaphylaxis on exposure.6 Owing to the possibility of anaphylaxis in the dental setting, it is imperative that dental care providers should have up-to-date training and should feel confident in the use of AAIs, when needed.
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